About

Welcome to ultrasound: a sonograph of the developing music scene in South Africa. If you listen real close you can hear the beat of its heart. Its rhythms ringing out through the South African airwaves.

Our music industry is a young and fragile entity. Born out of a rich history and an array of diverse cultures, we have a talent pool that runs deeper than you can possibly imagine. But we have a long way to go if we want to compete in the global industry. The international music world is a perilous place. The rich and powerful have claimed the music industry as their personal playground.

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side” – Hunter. S. Thompson

The contents of this digital diary will vary from week to week. But all of them will revolve around music in South Africa, and the musicians that create it. Together we will uncover its past and its future, its struggles and successes.

Articles are written by Adam Rothschild, a 19-year-old musician from Cape Town. Having played music for almost to his entire life, his goal is to explore music beyond just the notes. Music has a culture, a community, a history and an economy. Each article will work towards gaining insight into these topics, and gaining a better understanding of how music works in our society.

Listen up close. Shut out all the noise, and you will hear the heart of South African music.